My Story

My journey with skincare started in college, when I noticed that my skin was going through a lot of changes that reflected the changes I was going through in college. For the first time, I was mainly on my own and that meant eating a lot of processed foods (e.g. ramen) and staying up way too late. Soon, I noticed my skin was turning dry and rough and I even developed eczema. And I noticed I was not alone as some of my friends, who when I first met had “normal” skin, but after a while I noticed some had developed acne. So I started doing a lot of research into developing a skin care routine to help cope with the changes and bring my skin back to a normal state. Today, I know that skincare alone is not enough to heal and maintain the skin, but it is a good supplement! Diet and mental health play a much bigger role in the overall health of your skin. But today I will be writing about the basics of starting your own skincare routine.

1. Oil-Based Cleanser

Removes sunscreen and makeup that traditional cleansers cannot. Additionally, the oil will help to dissolve the oil in your skin that has hardened and would normally be stuck in your pores, leading to breakouts and other problems in the future.

Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
It’s expensive, but it lasts a long time and well worth it

Moringa Cleansing Balm
A more affordable option in solid form

2. Water-Based Cleanser

You might be wondering didn’t we just use the oil-based cleanser. But using a second cleanse is recommended by many estheticians and dermatologists as it helps to thoroughly remove any impurities that can cause breakouts.

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Soy Face Cleanser-Fresh
My favorite cleanser of all time

Neogen Real Fresh Cleansing Stick
I want to try this, crazy how many forms cleansers can come in now lol!

3. Toner

Usually comes in a liquid form that you can place on a cotton pad to remove any leftover residue and prep your skin for absorption. Note: Avoid toners with alcohol or witch hazel as it will dry out your skin with an unbalanced PH level.

Whamisa Organic Flowers Deep Rich Toner
Leaves my skin feeling very hydrated

Son and Park Beauty Water
Many friends have repurchased this toner

4. Serum or Ampoules

Made of a high concentration of active ingredients that you can customize to address your concern (i.e. hydration, brightening, healing acne-scarring, improve skin elasticity, etc).

Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Ampoule
I have continued to repurchase this, great night time serum for repair

Cosrx-Triple-C-Lightning Liquid
Helpful for those looking to treat acne scarring and prevent pigmentation

5. Eye Cream

An important step as the area around your eyes is the thinnest and most delicate area of your face. Keep the skin around your eyes hydrated, and it is the best anti-aging step you can start incorporating now.

Kiehl's Avocado Eye Cream
The only eye cream I use in the winter, great for people with dry skin, especially if you suffer from eczema too!

Eco Your Skin Eye Essence
This is beyond my budget, but new innovation in eye cream is a lighter eye essence

6. Moisturizer

The last step in your routine to seal in the moisture. Moisturizers usually contain humectants, which both prevent the loss of moisture and attract it to the skin.

Make Perm Safe Relief Cream
Great moisturizer designed for sensitive skin (eczema/acne) that contains 12 safe and gentle ingredients

*Belief True Cream Aqua Bomb
Lighter moisturizer for those with oily skin types

Executive Summary:

Removing the day’s impurities to reset your skin-> Moisturizing and repairing your skin during the nighttime-> Protecting your skin with sunscreen during the daytime (extremely important to prevent sun damage from UV rays).

I hope this has inspired you to start your own skincare routine, or at least start thinking about improving your self-care. Feel free to leave any questions in the comments ~.~